Isaiah

For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water.

1Look! The Lord, the LORD who commands heaven's armies, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah every support they lean on. He will remove their whole supply of food and water.

2The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,

2He will take away the strong man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the fortune-teller and the elder.

3The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.

3He will take the officer over fifty men, the important man, the adviser, the skilled craftsman, and the clever speaker.

4And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

4God says, "I will put boys in charge as their leaders. Children will rule over them."

5And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

5People will push each other around, neighbor against neighbor. The young will act proudly toward the old, and nobodies toward respected people.

6When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:

6A man will grab his brother in their father's house and say, "You still have a coat. You be our leader. Take charge of this pile of ruins."

7In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.

7That day the brother will answer out loud, "I am no healer. I have no food or clothing in my own house. Do not make me ruler of the people."

8For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

8Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen. Their words and their deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.

9The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

9The look on their faces speaks against them. Like Sodom, they show off their sin and do not hide it. How terrible for them! They have brought this trouble on themselves.

10Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

10Tell the people who do right that it will go well for them. They will enjoy the good that their work brings.

11Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

11How terrible for the wicked! It will go badly for them. They will get back exactly what their hands have done.

12As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

12Boys push my people around, and women rule over them. My people, your leaders lead you the wrong way. They turn you off the right road.

13The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.

13The LORD stands up to argue his case. He takes his place to judge the people.

14The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

14The LORD brings his charge against the elders and princes of his people: "You have eaten up the vineyard. What you took from the poor is sitting in your houses."

15What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

15"What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?" says the Lord GOD who commands heaven's armies.

16Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:

16The LORD also says: "The women of Zion are proud. They walk with their heads held high and flirting eyes, taking short showy steps, with the rings on their ankles jingling."

17Therefore the LORD will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.

17So the Lord will send sores on the heads of the women of Zion, and he will leave their heads bare.

NoteIn 1611 English, "discover" meant to uncover, not to find out. The verse says their heads will be stripped bare.

18In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,

18On that day the Lord will take away their fine things: the jingling rings on their ankles, their headbands, and their crescent-moon charms.

Note"Bravery" here means fine things or finery, not courage.

19The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,

19He will take their necklaces, their bracelets, and their veils.

20The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,

20He will take their fancy headdresses, their ankle chains, their sashes, their perfume bottles, and their charms.

21The rings, and nose jewels,

21He will take their rings and their nose rings.

22The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,

22He will take their best outfits, their capes, their cloaks, and their purses.

23The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.

23He will take their mirrors, their fine linen clothes, their turbans, and their shawls.

Note"Glasses" here means mirrors. They were made of polished metal, since glass mirrors did not exist yet.

24And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.

24Instead of sweet perfume there will be a bad smell. Instead of a belt, a rope. Instead of styled hair, a bald head. Instead of a fine robe, rough sackcloth. Instead of beauty, a burn mark.

NoteA "girdle" was a belt or sash, and a "stomacher" was a fine robe. A "rent" is a torn strip of cloth. Sackcloth was rough, scratchy cloth that people wore when grieving.

25Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.

25Your men will die by the sword. Your soldiers will fall in battle.

26And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.

26The gates of the city will cry and mourn. Jerusalem will be left empty, sitting on the ground.